Some of my family and friends are amazed at my new technological skills.  I would never take the credit for creating this website.  My son-in-law, Nick Ratcliff, is my administrator/creator.  It took me almost two hours to place a photo on my home page--then it disappeared.  Yes, Weebly is supposed to be user friendly, but this user is not friendly with computers.  So, I cannot say how grateful I am for Nick's expertise and patience.  He is one of my most ardent supporters and has great ideas and knows how to implement them.  So THANKS NICK--I love you "son." My daughter, Kelly, is truly fortunate to have such a thoughtful husband--and he is an amazing father too.

It's been quite some time since I last blogged.  I've been quite busy with classes, grandchildren, and creating art.  My last class, "Wabi Sabi" was June 9-10 at the Mendocino Art Center.  My teacher, Donna Watson, taught us to make our own paper with the thinnest and most delicate Japanese papers, and although it was fun, it was also quite challenging.  Donna gave us many tips on how to create more interesting collages and encouraged us all to step away from our safe places.  It wasn't easy to follow her direction, but I learned so much about composition.  She also spoke to me about finding my voice--and although it is still but a whisper--Donna's given me much to think about.  I am so thankful for her patience and compassion.  Google Donna Watson and see what serene collages she creates.  

I am currently exhibiting at the Cloverdale Performance Art Center.  My work has been in the halls for over a month.  I will be taking the pieces down around April 12. Some repairs will have to be made   due to moisture and am hoping I can correct the lifting of the fragile architectural engravings.

The learning curve is pretty steep, and I seem to be at the lower end right now.  I love creating art, but promoting it isn't easy.  It is my desire to show my work locally at the Cloverdale Art Alliance. I believe I am a good fit and may also pursue exhibiting at a gallery in Chester, near Lake Almanor.  We spend quite a bit of time at Almanor, and the art community is quite strong there.  A supportive cooperative or gallery is what I am hoping for.  

We'll see...if you are an artist you will understand my words, if not I am sure that you also try to make your dreams come true, even if you are unsure as to what they are.

It's important that we support each other.  Please share my website with others.  It's just the beginning.    

​Thank you, Leslie

Every artist has a style that often evolves.  Well, currently I love creating backgrounds with one inch squares--sometimes larger.  Some may think this is a little restrictive, but cutting and applying the little pieces is meditative.  I choose to use decorative artist papers, but my favorite paper is one I create by using National Geographic Magazines (dated after the 1970s) and Citrasolv, an ecological orange concentrate degreaser.  It more or less melts the clay inks, creating the most unpredictable colors and shapes.  I love, love, love the Citrasolv paper. The process is a little messy but worth it.

I don't know how other artists work, but I don't usually have a plan.  I don't draw my layout...I just start and eventually I feel that I have finished the piece. I become an alternate self.  It's not a good idea to interrupt me during the process.  Crazy as it seems, I enjoy watching old westerns while I am working--Gunsmoke is my favorite.  

Hopefully, this gives you an insight into my process.  As I continue this "blog" you will get to know me a little better.  Come back and visit and enjoy the journey.   

Until about eight years ago photography was my art form.  I had taken every photography class available at the nearby community college including Color, Advanced and Experimental.  I found the darkroom magical--floating the papers in the developer and seeing an image form was a miracle to me.  I was totally awestruck, and I could spend hours and hours in the darkroom.  Then the college decided to limit the number of times a student could take each class.  That was the end of my long sessions in the darkroom. And using our spare bathroom was just too difficult--and the ventilation was horrible.  

As I am technically challenged, digital photography is not magical in the least!!! So, finding another art form was inevitable. After I took a class in collage at the Palo Alto Art Center I was hooked.  The other students in the class were kind, talented, supportive, and FUN.  We lived each others lives--divorces, breast cancer, deaths of spouses, grandchildren, and tragically we shared grieving for two of our beloved "sisters."  When I moved to Cloverdale, CA, I missed my collage group, but I visit every once in a while, and it's as if I never left.  

Collage is limitless, meditative, and incredibly expressive for me.